Small Scale Military Headquarters

Ok we know of HPH has kits and we also know that hobbyboss has a few, but are there any one that has put them together yet?

Are there any pictuers of these kits?

Do they have movable parts?

You got me on this one. I don't have a clue.

I know there are a few in the model car arena, especially in Europe, but never seen any military ones here in the US. Just the traditional smaller scales...

there's really nothing. The Glencoe Mechanical Mule kit says it's 1/15 but it's really about 1/19. There are a couple of old Aurora WWI plane kits that are also 1/19....SE5 and Fokker DVII.

There's the 1/18 JS III Stalin tank resin kit that sells in the hundreds of dollars range. There's a Smer Napoleonic cannon kits that claims to be 1/18.

That's about it off the top of my head.

I think 21st should make some 1:18 scale model tank kits. They make 1:32 airplane kits so why not 1:18... I would like to buy a tank or a jeep kit and build it to the way I like it

lou210 wrote:I think 21st should make some 1:18 scale model tank kits. They make 1:32 airplane kits so why not 1:18... I would like to buy a tank or a jeep kit and build it to the way I like it

They should. They make both plane and tank/vehicle kits in 1:32 (my Sherman is a kit). Vehicles shouldn't be that hard to make a kit of in 1:18, and I figure they would sell very well considering all the model builders and people that like to customize things out there.

Planes eh I am not sure either way on those.

I've got a few 1:18 kits as far as cars but I haven't seen very many - really none - in the military genre.

bdr_ws6 wrote:

lou210 wrote:I think 21st should make some 1:18 scale model tank kits. They make 1:32 airplane kits so why not 1:18... I would like to buy a tank or a jeep kit and build it to the way I like it

They should. They make both plane and tank/vehicle kits in 1:32 (my Sherman is a kit). Vehicles shouldn't be that hard to make a kit of in 1:18, and I figure they would sell very well considering all the model builders and people that like to customize things out there.

Planes eh I am not sure either way on those.

I've got a few 1:18 kits as far as cars but I haven't seen very many - really none - in the military genre.

There is a huge margin between the collector and the modeler. Most who collect these items do it because they do not want to build them. They call it instant gradification.


Jeff

Panther F wrote:There is a huge margin between the collector and the modeler. Most who collect these items do it because they do not want to build them. They call it instant gradification.

Jeff

Good point.

I thought the whole idea behind snap-fit, pre-painted display models was actually not having to assemble and paint the damn things, but apparently the good people at 21st Century Toys are of the opinion that it's far better to crank out models with lousy paintjobs that you then have to fix (or at least try to fix) yourself in order to get something that remotely resembles the picture on the box.

Case in point: Their ‘Easy Rider’ Huey. The shark mouth design is total, absolute BS (someone in China must have made a shoddy attempt at making corrections to it with a paintbrush). The white band over the tail boom looks as if Michael J. Fox had painted it in the middle of an earthquake. Not to mention the fact that <a href="http://www.aircav.com/cobra/m260.html">BOTH rocket launchers</a> had been glued into position <a href="http://www.aircav.com/img/cav/m200.jpg">on the pod</a>. Alas, it was the wrong position (i.e. they were both upside down, mind you). And, last but not least, I've had to repaint both ends of each rocket launcher in order to get them to look like the real thing.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I’d gladly pay more for “authentic battle colors,” or whatever it is that’s written on the box, if it is done right. (And, yes, <i>I expect them to get it right at the current retail price, whatever it is, because <b>that’s what they promise their customers</b>;</i> but I’d certainly pay more, quite simply because I can’t replicate the paint scheme myself. So, if that’s what it takes, then I'm willing to pay more).

So much for<b> 1:18 <i>quality</i> display models</b>, I guess. If I remember correctly, there was a thread a while back here asking whether or not we consider our models to be toys… Well, for me this, er, <b>little</b> QA problem pretty much settles the issue.

21st Century Toys has the widest selection of aircraft in 1:18 scale, but their products leave much to be desired in terms of quality (and if I could, I wouldn’t buy any of their models ever again—unfortunately, we're all stuck with them for the time being). I’d rather go back to assembling my own kits and botching them myself. But I don't have the time. So maybe that’s what the future has in store for 21st. Who knows? Who cares?

Personally, I think most all the 1/18th scale aircraft (and armor to some degree) ARE kits. Yeah, they may be almost fully assembled and painted....and yeah, I'd really like to see these aircraft offered in un-painted and un-assembled media....but I think we are missing some of the fun. If you have no time for modifying what flies out of the box, how are you going to handle a full fledged "assemble from nothing" kit? Granted, some of the detail is lost because of the manufacturing techniques....but you have to remember that they build them to appeal to a wide variety of collector. Alot of people want to open the box and VIOLA!!! ....instant historic aircraft ready for the display shelf. But if you are like me (back me up here all you "Modders")...you see potential in practically every bird in a box regardless of who made it in the first place. This is not a rant....just an alternative thinking idea. And I agree whole-heartedly that the quality issue has become a bigger issue of late. I work hard for the little money I can slurge on my hobbies....I'd like to believe those who get it work just as hard to give me the best "bang for the buck". I honestly believe they try....I'll remain optimistic.

Since day one I have been an advocate for the release of these 1/18th "Models" in a kit form, some of my earliest posts over at the GP site requested this, I see in that Me 262 review that at least one mainstream modeler was able to get their hands on a be built example!

Even New Ray does it so why just not make them available, the only cost would for new packaging, which by the way could be far smaller anyway.

I still want the pre-builts but give me the kit option please.....................

The battle between models and toys continues.

For the last hundred posts on the subject, 21C builds and sells TOYS.

Nobody....I'll say it again NOBODY is going to make an accurate scale model for the price 21C sells these toys.

We all have seen museum quality models that are super accurate AND cost in the thousands of bucks. They will never be compared to a 21C plane that was made and sold as toys.

Ya gets what ya pays for.....

BTW - currently Dragon is starting to market 1/6 kits. They are starting with a Kettengrad for under $100, when their assembled Kett costs alot more. Rolling Thunder is also bringing out a 1/6 Sdkfz 251 kit at around $300 while the DID Sdkfz 251 is comming out with a all metal, completely assembled and painted in your choice of five different color patterns, for around a grand. Somebody sees the advantage of kits...

TTT

I think we got a bit off topic here, I was asking about model kits from hobby boss And other model companies that may not be mainstream
not 21st toys.

I recently picked up one of the 1/18 JS-III model kits that Aferg mentioned in his earlier post on this thread. It's a Christmas present so I have to wait until then to "officially" post pics and get to work on it. I did get to check it out and make sure all the parts were there though.. It's a nice looking model with great customizing potential. Plus it's going to be cool to have a 1/18 Russian tank in my collection..... It may not be a tank with a big combat record, but it's Russian armor in 1/18 scale. Something we don't have any of at this point and who knows if we will. If you are able to get one and love building models, I say go for it. I don't think you'll regret it.

I'd received one of the 1/18 JSIII tanks last winter. Keeping in mind it's a very limited release (300 run IIRC) resin kit, I'm very impressed with the detail, including cast marks, handholds, etc. Last winter I'd gotten it to the point that what's left is the running gear and painting (this winter's project). It's been great to built again, and being able to take my time and get it right is a real big plus.

Threetoughtrucks wrote:The battle between models and toys continues.

For the last hundred posts on the subject, 21C builds and sells TOYS.

Nobody....I'll say it again NOBODY is going to make an accurate scale model for the price 21C sells these toys.

We all have seen museum quality models that are super accurate AND cost in the thousands of bucks. They will never be compared to a 21C plane that was made and sold as toys.

Ya gets what ya pays for.....

BTW - currently Dragon is starting to market 1/6 kits. They are starting with a Kettengrad for under $100, when their assembled Kett costs alot more. Rolling Thunder is also bringing out a 1/6 Sdkfz 251 kit at around $300 while the DID Sdkfz 251 is comming out with a all metal, completely assembled and painted in your choice of five different color patterns, for around a grand. Somebody sees the advantage of kits...

TTT

I think everyone on this board agrees that these are most definitely <I>not</I> museum quality models.

On the other hand, if you get what you pay for, then you should be able to display whatever is featured in the picture on the box (or the manufacturer’s catalogue, for that matter). Sorry, but I don’t set the prices. Someone did that for me already. And I assume the price tag is for a model w/o <I><b>significant</b></I> paint flaws (emphasis on “<I><b>significant</b></I>”).

That’s all I’m asking for. That the manufacturers deliver on their promise. If they need to raise their prices, that’s OK with me. ‘Cause this isn’t just 21st screwing up their paint jobs. I get the feeling that the other manufacturers are more or less cut from the same cloth (though I don’t have any Admiral Toys models, so I don’t know what quality standards they live by).

BBI’s ‘Old Crow’ is missing the very name of the plane from the starboard side of the fuselage (hence the Vexillarius decal) and the checker band on the cowling looks like something straight out of 21st Century Toys’ catalogue of horrors.

Would it be too much to ask that these companies get their act together and their models right for once?

I don’t expect 100% historical accuracy, but this kind of blatant oversight on their part? C’mon. They can do it better. Scrap that: They <I>should</I> do it better. <i>That’s</i> what they get paid for, IMHO.

If they can't or they won't, then the model kit format would be an excellent alternative for those who'd rather save on the shipping than pay for a shoddy paintjob.